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NERD…DORK…GEEK…these are words we've all used before in one way or another to describe someone who we feel isn't really a part of the society we live in. Sure
they're smart and all and we ask them to fix our computers from time to time, but they have an air to them that really provokes a feeling of animosity
especially amongst metal fans.
However, our concepts of dorks, geeks, and nerds has changed irrevocably in the
last 10 years or so. Geeks, nerds, etc were the kids who played Dungeons & Dragons, read comic books, played video games, taped their glasses together, and
called each other by code names or 'alter egos'. Now some of our greatest heroes and influences are nerds and geeks! Samuel L Jackson is a huge comic book nerd,
same with Quentin Tarantino. Bands such as Mudvayne and My Chemical Romance have members that are huge comic book nerds. So what is a geek then? What is a nerd?
Does it even matter anymore?!
The answer is a resounding NO! Just ask John Dolmayan, drummer of System of a Down. A rabid comic book fan and collector for the last 12 years, much of John's pre-System of a Down life was spent buying, selling, and
collecting comic books and toys to make ends meet. He still sells his comics at several comic conventions in California including the wildly popular San Diego
Comic Con International.
Being such a huge comic book fan and being in a huge band like System of a Down
has some perks you can't really find anywhere else. John found 19 of his
favorite comic book artists to do artwork on his drum kit. Now to the average
person, that might not sound like much but having luminaries like Kevin Eastman
(creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Tim Bradstreet (Hellblazer), Tim
Vigil (artist behind FAUST), Jim Lee, and Art Adams among others, doing some of
their signature characters or even original art is pretty fuckin' huge. That is
the type of thing us comic book nerds and fans drool about!!
But hearing it from me won't help you understand the scope of how insane this
whole thing is. I met up with John at Ozzfest 2006 in San Bernardino, CA to talk
to him about how he made his dream come true.
Here's a list of what artists are on John's drum kit:
10" = Arthur "Art" Adams
12" = Ale Garza, Lee Bermejo, Carlos D'Anda
14" = Michael Kaluta, Charles Vess
16" = Jim Lee
18" Floor = Tone Rodriguez, Mark Montano
12" Left = Tim Bradstreet, Dan Brereton
18"L = Bernie Wrightson, Tim Vigil, Vatche Maulian, Justin Reyes
22" L kick = Bill Sienkiewicz
22" R kick = Simon Bisley, Kevin Eastman
14" Snare = Neal Adams
BROWNSATAN (BS): You have all this new art on your drum kit…describe some of the
art.
John Dolmayan (JD): Everybody just did their own thing with it. I didn't give
them any specifics about what to do. I made some suggestions to some of the guys
but I just let them do what they wanted to do. They didn't necessarily use super
heroes. Some of them did and some of them just created whatever they wanted to.
I started doing this like, 3 years ago. You know I always set up at conventions
but because I'm such a tremendous fan of the genre, I decided, wouldn't it be
cool to mix the drums, which I love, which is my #1 passion, with my secondary
passion which is comics? Wouldn't that be cool to get some of my heroes that I
grew up with to work on my drums? It'd be cool [I thought] but it's not gonna
happen. So I started asking around and people were interested, y'know? I figure
it this way, dude, they're not getting paid. No one got paid.
BS: They did it for free?
JD: Yeah. You're talking about people that are busy…Art Adams has projects he's
already assigned to do 2 years in advance, you know what I mean? For him to do
it…and his got lost and he had to do another one! It took me another 2 years to
get that out of him!
BS: Yeah, Art Adams is my favorite artist of all time. Seeing Simon Bisely, Tim
Vigil…
JD: We have [Bill] Sienkeiwicz, we got [Michael] Kaluta, [Charles] Vess…crazy
guys bro! I never expected to get any of these guys…Neal Adams did one!
BS: That leads me into my next question…were there artists that you couldn't
get?
JD: There were a couple of guys that I couldn't get. A couple of them didn't
have the time, a couple I couldn't get in touch with in time to get it done. A
couple of them didn't want to do it for free, which is their prerogative. They
have to make a living and that's #1 for them. But pretty much everyone I went
after, I got.
BS: You kind of answered this before about giving them ideas. Did it seem kind
of weird to say, 'Oh I really want Spider Man'?
JD: I gave them the drum and said, "You do whatever you want." Cuz some of them,
for example, like Sienkeiwicz utilized the Mesmerize/Hypmotize albums [artwork],
Neil Adams did the same thing…some of them wanted to utilize that System [of a
Down] vibe, but the rest of the guys wanted to do whatever they wanted. Some
guys did superheroes that they're famous for example, Jim Lee, he did Batman,
the Joker, members of the X-Men, he did a collage of characters he's famous for.
BS: Who is your favorite artist?
JD: I gotta go with [Frank] Frazetta. It's tough to pick a favorite. I have to
say Frazetta for his style, I also like Richard Corben for his style but theirs
are two different styles. I also like Jim Lee who has a totally different style,
I'm a huge Neil Adams fan…
JD: Alex Ross did NOT do one. I tried to get in touch with him. That's one of
the guys I couldn't get in touch with. It would have been cool though. He's one
of my favorite artists, too.
BS: What was the process of getting the artwork on the drums? Did the artists
come to where you were?
JD: No, I sent them the drum. Some people took weeks, some people too months. It
was done in India Ink which won't disappear. Sharpee can fade. I sent the drum
out to them, they sent it back when it was complete. Then we had to create the
process to protect it that wouldn't BS the actual ink. So that took a couple of
months. It's been a three year project.
BS: I think when people hear or see it, they probably think it's like going to a
comic book signing, like, 'Hey, sign my drum!'
JD: This took more time than it took us to make the album! It took more time to
make these drums than the writing and recording of the album!
BS: Well, it's true because you have to work around [the artists'] schedules
too.
JD: I'm not paying them and they're doing it for the love of it. I want them to
do it when they're having fun doing it.
BS: Are any of them fans?
JD: Most of the guys are fans. If not them, then their sons. [Bernie] Wrightson's son is a huge System fan, Neil Adam's son is a huge System fan,
Sienkeiwicz is a huge System fan, Jim Lee has become a big System fan…they were
already fans, they became fans or their kids were fans.
BS: Tell me about www.torpedocomics.com . How long has that been going for?
JD: That's been going on for a lot longer. I've been selling comic books at
conventions here and there for over 12 years, now. I still do it when I get my
off time. I'm set up at San Diego [Comic Con International] even though I'm not
going to be there. About 5 years ago, I started thinking about the lack of what
I have in mind, which I can't tell you yet for the website. It's something that
no one's done. I saw this niche that I thought was great for me to do since I
love comics. We're taking a 2 year hiatus with System so I got nothing to do. So
I figured this would be a good time. So 2 years ago, I started drafting the idea
of the company and I started focusing more on it. Right now I have a 30,000 sq.
ft. warehouse in Las Vegas and I have 5 million books to date. Within six
months, I'll have 12 million. It's a big big project.
BS: Obviously, since you have this idea and you can't tell me what it is, it's
obviously NOT a typical, "BUY COMICS HERE.com" kind of thing.
JD: It's not going to be like any other websites that sells comic books. It's gonna have so much more than any of those have to offer. I really can't give it
away but I have a fantastic plan!
BS: When do you expect this to launch?
JD: We are going to launch November of 2007. But if you go to the website, you
should be able to sign the mailing list and ask questions. Jim Lee actually did
the logo for my company! It's not the one that's on there now but the one that's gonna be on there later. Which is cool because I'm getting a lot of love from
the comic community.
BS: What's your most valuable book?
JD: Right now it's MARVEL COMICS #1 [from 1939]. It's valued at $100,000.
BS: HOLY SHIT! YOU HAVE MARVEL COMICS #1?!
JD: I just sold my Superman #1. I had two of them. I figured this would be the
time to sell them. With the Superman movie out now and I just had an Action
Comics #2 and I just sold that one too. It was gorgeous.
BS: These are seriously high ticket items.
JD: I probably got a couple of million dollars worth of comics in my personal
collection. I have the best copy of ALLIES #1, the best copy of SENSATION COMICS
#1…
BS: Do you get them [Comics Guaranty, LLC (CGC)] graded?
JD: The high end stuff is ALL graded because you want to make sure it's not
restored. I have 70 copies of Giant Sized X-Men #1 [first appearance of 'new'
X-Men], at least 30 copies of Hulk #181 [first appearance of Wolverine], I have
multiples of the key issues.
BS: What is it about selling comics versus playing in a metal band? Is it a zen
kind of thing?
JD: There's a couple of things I really like about it. First, it keeps me
grounded. When I go to comic book conventions and I'm pulling boxes out of the
van, setting up and stuff, and I have no guarantees that I'm going to make
money, it just reminds me of where I came from. There was a time where if I
didn't make $300 that week, I wasn't paying my bills. For some reason or
another, I'd make $320, just enough to make it. It brings me back to those days
plus I still have the same friends, a lot of those friends I met in the comic
book industry. In fact, a lot of them are moving to Vegas to help out with my
company. It's a way to maintain that, in a lot of ways. I LOVE the comic book
industry and I'm really passionate about it, otherwise, I wouldn't waste my time
with it. I'm not investing millions of dollars in this company for it NOT to be
successful. It's gonna be like nothing anyone has ever seen.
BS: You said before that this was the last System tour for a while. Is selling
comics basically the only thing you're going to be doing during this time? Do
you have any other music projects you're working on?
JD: The only musical project I have…first off, if my band members need me for
anything, of course, I'm there for them musically. I'll probably work on Serj's
things, Shavo's thing, and I'll probably work on Daron's thing to some capacity
or another, just to help them out. There's a band called THE APEX THEORY. I paid
and funded their newest album so I'll be shopping that around and helping them
out. They're very good friends of ours and to me, that's not really a business
thing. I really like the music, I believe in them, and I feel that they should
be successful. So if I can just get them to where they need to be, that would be
all the profit I need.
BS: And that's definitely enough to take up your time, between that and
www.torpedocomics.com …
JD: I got a lot of other stuff going on too. I'm getting married in 6 months…
BS: Congratulations! Good luck to you both! Okay…favorite comic book movie?
JD: I like each one for different reasons. I'll tell you the ones I DIDN'T
like…I didn't like "Daredevil". The reason I don't like them isn't because of
the acting, it's because of the stories. I didn't like "Daredevil," I liked the
HULK, I didn't love it. I didn't like the fact that it was directed by someone
who had never read the comic book. That bothers me. I don't want that kind of
approach. I want someone who knows it and can do it justice. Although there was
some cool stuff going on, I could have gotten the same vibe watching 'Starsky &
Hutch'. The 'X-Men' movies were all great, the 'Superman' movie was great, the
'Batman Begins'...BEST Batman yet. Nothing comes close. Let's see, 'Spider-Man's
were all great and I liked the fact that there's a lot of story, you're learning
a lot more about the characters and your feeling a relationship with them which
is something that Hollywood isn't very good at lately. But they're actually
doing it in these movies.
BS: And they're paying justice to the comic books…
JD: 'X-Men' did a very good job, 'Spider-Man' did a great job, I think
'Spider-Man' did the best job, you understand when they have to change some
things. 'Superman' was GREAT! People thought it was too slow but I think what
they're doing is developing a character that you're going to feel something with
because they didn't just bring in some movie star to do the movie; they brought
an unknown actor and made you fall in love with that actor. The next movie, I
expect to have more action. Now you know what he's about.
BS: What comic book movie would you LIKE to see made?
JD: I'd like to see an Avengers [live action] movie. I like the animated version
they did. I didn't love it but it's worth seeing. I also love to see THE MARVELS
or the DC version, where Shazam helped kill off these super heroes because it
comes from a different perspective. Oh and by the way, the 'Fantastic Four'
movie was terrible. It was garbage. It got a ZERO on my list. As much as I love
Jessica Alba, that's just not who I envision being [The Invisible Girl]. The
real reason I didn't like that movie is because they destroyed Doctor Doom. Was
that Electro or Dr. Doom? I don't understand who that was. The whole point of
Dr. Doom is that he's a king, he's nuts, he was a beautiful person at one time
who got scarred and that drove him to a certain level of insanity. The greatest
thing about him was that he was NOT a super hero. He was a genius and he created
armor that gave him powers. Bill Gates becomes Dr. Doom. I didn't like it at
all.
BS: We're now going to start putting a focus on toys, comics, and things of that
nature. In an effort to get people to read more and in your opinion, as a comic
book professional and connoisseur, what are some must have's that people who are
not necessarily into comics, need to read?
JD: It's really simple. You have to read "Dark Knight Returns" by Frank Miller,
the first series, not the 2nd, leave the 2nd alone. You have to read X-Men,
well, ANY X-Men, but X-Men from #94 to about #150. Those are must reads. You
have to read Amazing Spider-Man, from when [Todd] McFarlane started to…actually,
right before that, when they did the KRAVEN SAGA, you can get that in trade
paperback, get it, read it. It's great! Start with that if you're a Spider-Man
fan. If you're a DC fan, you have to read the Green Arrow that was done by Neil
Adams that were dealing with drug issues. There's actually a lot of things to
read. 'Watchmen', once you become a little bit older, when you become 21-22,
read it…I kind of recommend the same thing with LORD OF THE RINGS. Don't read it
until you're 22; because you're not gonna get it. 'V for Vendetta' is easier to
read than 'Watchmen'. 'Watchmen' has a lot more to read than 'V for Vendetta'
and 'V for Vendetta' is easier to grasp.
BS: Okay, so you're mild mannered John Dolmayan by day, who are you at night?
What super hero do you relate to most?
JD: I relate more to Batman because Batman really did it for the love of the
people in his area. He was a very affluent person who had a lot of tragedy so he
could relate. Instead of taking that tragedy and making it bitter, he took that
tragedy and made it positive. He helped the people he was living with. I
obviously don't have the martial arts training, the gadgets or the money, but
that's who I relate most with. He works alone, even though he had Robin,
Batman's more of a loner. As far as super hero character, who would I want to
be? If I was going to be anybody, I'd be THE BEYONDER because nobody could beat
him. (laughs). You wanna be unbeatable basically!
 BS: Aight, super nerd time…we're gonna do a little comic book test to see just
how nerdy you are…
JD: Super nerdy…
BS: Okay, Hulk vs. Superman…who wins?
JD: Hulk.
BS: How come?
JD: He can throw Super Man out of the solar system and away from the yellow sun
if he got angry enough…
BS: Wolverine vs. Batman…who wins?
JD: Wolverine because he's got adamantium claws and martial arts training.
BS: Do you play Dungeons & Dragons?
JD: Yup…
BS: SUPER NERD!!
BS: Comic book fans and metal heads…not the types of people who readily get the
girls. These poor guys need some help, man, what can you tell them?
JD: Pick up the girls at the comic book conventions because they have something
in common. Pick up the girls at the metal shows because they have something in
common. There are just as many girls who like comic books and metal. I wouldn't
say there's just as many as guys but there's a lot. Concentrate on things you
know and be yourself. Look, I found her [points at his gorgeous fiancée] at a
comic book convention!
BS: So you play in System of a Down, you're playing Ozzfest, I figure you're a
pretty big music fan. Who're you listening to now?
JD: I like Muse's new album a lot. Believe it or not, I like metal but I listen
to mellow music because we play such heavy stuff. I haven't had a chance to
listen to a lot music because I've been working on the Apex Theory album and
I've spent about 30 hours playing WarCraft online! That's why I bought a
computer was just to play video games!
[Tells his roadie that his drum kit has a scratch on it]
JD: This kit cannot get fucked up! I'm actually going to show that kit at
conventions and I'm gonna do a book on it; Kevin Eastman's going to publish it
for me.
BS: I see you a million times, in magazines, in books, in photos…why don't you
ever smile?
JD: I dunno. I don't smile when I play [drums], I don't smile when I have
sex…BABE! [calls over to his fiancée], Do I ever smile when we have sex?
Summer: Do you smile? No, you make 'the drum face'.
BS: What's the 'drum face'?
JD: I dunno…
Summer: He gets a wrinkle right here [points in between eyebrows].
BS: (laughs) and that's it, huh!?
JD: It's concentration, y'know?! I'm not doing it to entertain people with my
laughing. I'm entertaining her cuz there's passion! I have that same passion
behind my drum set. So when we take pictures, I have smiled a couple of times. I
want credit for that! If you look at pictures of me as a kid, I'm not smiling.
But I've always been the happiest kid with my Matchbox toys, Hot Wheels…so I'm a
nerd and I'm always happy but I never show it. How many times have YOU seen me
smile?!
-Interview by the bROwnsatan |
http://www.myspace.com/brownsatan
Inside Photos by Rev Aaron (1st photo) and by
Arlene So (2nd and 3rd photos).
Thanks RO ~
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